4th November 2018

Branch Line Society
The Ruby Vampire

Route :
1Z86 : Crewe to West Kirby
1Z87 : West Kirby to Southport
1Z88 : Southport to Crewe

Notes :
(1) 47826 on rear.
(2) 33025 on rear.
(3) John Clifford's comments: This was a charity tour arranged by the Branch Line Society to raise money for the Merseyside and Chester Blood Bikes. An explanation the name of the tour may be needed. The “Ruby” part refers to the 40^th anniversary of Merseyrail while the “Vampire” part is for the recipients of moneys raised by the tour. The charity transports various items on behalf of the local N.H.S. by motor cycle. As advertised the tour was due to reverse at Hoylake but was extended to run to West Kirby so that the whole of the line was covered. The reversal at Birkenhead Depot replaced one at Bidston Sidings. The return from Southport was advertised as being via Wigan Wallgate but as the line was shut between Southport and Wigan by short notice engineering work the route was amended to that shown below. All this was academic in view of what happened on the day. The tour started normally but on traversing Dee Marsh Sidings the leading axle on coach 4940 derailed while we were travelling at slow speed. In due course Network Rail and DB Cargo attended and re-railed the offending coach. While this was going on 33025 took coach 4960 with some of the tour passengers to Wrexham General for transfer to service trains to get them back to Crewe. 33025 with coach 4960 then returned back to Dee Marsh Sidings. I haven’t got any times for these movements. Coach 4940 having been re-railed, it was then pushed by 47826 with coaches 4973 + 21266 into no. 3 siding (depart Reception Road 16.28 & arrive no. 3 siding at 16.36) Then it was back to Reception Road for 21266 + 4973 hauled by 47826 (depart no. 3 siding at 16.39 arrive Reception Road 16.45). Finally 33025 and coach 4960 were reunited with the rest of train which then departed back to Crewe as shown below. An extra stop was made at Shotton for anyone requiring the North Wales Coast Line. We were over time in Croes Newydd North Fork Loop as we had to wait for the 15.15 Cardiff - Holyhead to go ahead which was 10 minutes late at this point. Despite a stop at Roodee Jn we left Chester on time, but were held outside Crewe to let the 17.08 Euston - Holyhead cross our path. It was 4 minutes late leaving Crewe. A re-run of the tour has been arranged for 24^th March 2019.

Source : John Clifford (on the tour throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

1Z88 : (33025 with 47826 on rear) : Dee Marsh Reception Sidings to Croes Newydd North Fork
1Z88 : (47826 with 33025 on rear) : Croes Newydd North Fork to Crewe

Associated E.C.S. Workings

03/11/18 :
5Z85 : (47826 with 33025 on rear) : Carnforth to Crewe Down Refuge Siding

04/11/18 :
5Z86 : (33025 with 47826 on rear) : Crewe Crewe Down Refuge Siding to Crewe

5Z88 : (33025 with 47826 on rear) : Crewe to Carnforth

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